Oddparts Press

Whosoever shall say unto his brother, Thou fool, shall be in danger of
hell fire. And woe be even unto the commendable life of men, if,
laying aside mercy, Thou shouldest examine it. But because Thou art
not extreme in enquiring after sins, we confidently hope to find
some place with Thee. But whosoever reckons up his real merits to
Thee, what reckons he up to Thee but Thine own gifts? O that men would
know themselves to be men; and that he that glorieth would glory in
the Lord.

I therefore, O my Praise and my Life, God of my heart, laying
aside for a while her good deeds, for which I give thanks to Thee with
joy, do now beseech Thee for the sins of my mother. Hearken unto me, I
entreat Thee, by the Medicine of our wounds, Who hung upon the tree,
and now sitting at Thy right hand maketh intercession to Thee for
us. I know that she dealt mercifully, and from her heart forgave her
debtors their debts; do Thou also forgive her debts, whatever she
may have contracted in so many years, since the water of salvation.
Forgive her, Lord, forgive, I beseech Thee; enter not into judgment
with her. Let Thy mercy be exalted above Thy justice, since Thy
words are true, and Thou hast promised mercy unto the merciful;
which Thou gavest them to be, who wilt have mercy on whom Thou wilt
have mercy; and wilt have compassion on whom Thou hast had compassion.

And, I believe, Thou hast already done what I ask; but accept, O
Lord, the free-will offerings of my mouth. For she, the day of her
dissolution now at hand, took no thought to have her body
sumptuously wound up, or embalmed with spices; nor desired she a
choice monument, or to be buried in her own land. These things she
enjoined us not; but desired only to have her name commemorated at Thy
Altar, which she had served without intermission of one day: whence
she knew the holy Sacrifice to be dispensed, by which the hand-writing
that was against us is blotted out; through which the enemy was
triumphed over, who summing up our offences, and seeking what to lay
to our charge, found nothing in Him, in Whom we conquer. Who shall
restore to Him the innocent blood? Who repay Him the price wherewith